Followed 201 treated substance abusers for 6 months and found that Blacks and women were more likely to attend self-help groups and that measures of social stability did not predict attendance. Found that persons who attended groups had more severe problems in several domains. (Author/NB)

Examined incidence of childhood sexual and physical abuse in adults (n=52) infected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Interview results indicated that 65 percent of those infected reported physical or sexual abuse in childhood. Those reporting abuse also indicated experiencing one of four identified adult survivor characteristics: alcohol or…

Describes the services of the Appalachian Mental Health Center in Elkins, West Virginia. Services include a school for emotionally disturbed teenagers, an Adult Training Center, a preschool for developmental disabilities, a public inebriate shelter, a crisis center for teens, a small prison counseling program, and long-term counseling for drug and…

Examines client characteristics, referral and screening procedures, program characteristics, treatment goals, financial arrangements, and staff characteristics in 50 programs using adventure experiences with substance abuse populations. Notes needs for specific program evaluation research and for the development of prescriptive treatment…

Investigates psychosocial, relationship, and situational factors associated with HIV risk in a sample of 152 inner-city homeless men and women. Results show gender differences in risk patterns. Concludes that HIV prevention efforts tailored to the different risk circumstances of men and women are needed in social services programs for homeless…

Presents a cultural framework for viewing alcohol/drug abuse to promote increased awareness among social-work students. The framework helps teachers illustrate the powerful role of culture in shaping behaviors in several cultural/ethnic groups simultaneously, and can be used to discuss cases and clinical problems in the classroom, compare cultures…

Effects of the "Choices" program for reduction of unhealthy behaviors among student athletes (N=190) were evaluated. Program components are described. Pretest and posttest assessment was conducted. Results are compared to national norms and discussed. Unexpected results may be due to the program or response rate on posttest. (EMK)

The Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT) is validated by comparing 42 drug-using and -abstaining youth on several social and behavioral characteristics. All 10 POSIT domain scores for drug users are greater than those for abstainers. Construct validity is established by comparing POSIT domain scores with other instruments.…

Illegal behavior, drug trafficking, and substance abuse levels of two groups (both parents, mother only) of inner-city African-American youth were compared. African-American subjects who had been raised in mother-only households reported significantly fewer illegal offenses. Findings are contrary to common attitudes regarding the effects of…

Faculty at an urban university were surveyed to explore the rates of confronting peers and college students with alcohol/other drug problems, the types of interventions made, and the reasons for not confronting impaired others. Results indicate that more faculty knew of a colleague who had a current substance problem than had actually confronted…

Describes retrospective study of 100 consecutive referrals of females who offend to an Adolescent Forensic Mental Health Services. Referrers were found to have only correctly documented violent and aggressive behavior in 54% of the cases. Seventy-one of the girls had been abused, the majority having been multiply abused. Of the violent girls, 50%…

Assesses 350 delinquent court-adjudicated adolescent males for substance use/abuse. Analyses reveal social behavior/peer relationship variables to be more strongly related to the degree of substance use/abuse than were the family problem risk variables. Follow-up analysis reveals evidence that conforming/socially acceptable behavior acts as a…

Describes the author's work using poetry therapy groups with chemically-dependant adults in a residential drug treatment unit and in an outpatient setting of a large drug rehabilitation program. Discusses each poetry therapy group and notes the stages of group work. (SR)

Individual and family treatment approaches were evaluated using a treatment adherence process measure. Full-length videotapes of 90 treatment sessions for 36 clients were rated by nonparticipants. Challenges in conducting adherence research and implications of these results for advancing treatment of adolescent drug users are addressed. (EMK)

Addresses a paradigm shift taking place in the field of substance-abuse prevention for youth. Introduces the youth development and empowerment (YD&E) approach, an innovative program for treating substance abuse and other problem behavior. Discusses the process of implementing the YD&E program. (MKA)